Inflatable toy



No 2 9 I J. H. LEMELSON 3,065,567

INFLATABLE TOY Filed Feb. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 l4 l4 I2 I60 '3 IO i 1 l3 I2 V W I I6 l3 W 1| 1 p Q ZGb Fig 1 Fig. 2

INVENTOR.

JeromeHLemelson J. H. LEMELSON INFLATABLE TOY Nov. 27, 1962 2 Sheet sSheet 2 Filed Feb. 27 1959 INVENTOR. l grome H.Lemelson $116.

atent 3,965,567 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 llQQ 3,065,567 INFLATABLE TOY Jerome H. Lemelson, 43A Garfield Apts., Metuchen, NJ. Filed Feb. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 795,955 7 (Claims. (ill. 46*88) This invention relates to inflatable assemblies and, in particular, to inflatable toys and supports therefor. This is a continuation in part of my copending patent applica tions Ser. No. 320,184 entitled Inflatable Toys and filed on November 13, 1952, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 410,489 entitled Inflatable Toys and filed on Feb. 16, 1954 and now Patent 2,916,849.

Toys fabricated out of flexible plastic sheeting in the form of an enclosure which may be inflated to provide a semi-rigid mock figure or the like have been used, prior to this, primarily as beach or water toys. These have found very little utility other than to serve as a float, figure or doll.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved structures in inflatable toys which will not only enhance their versatility but will also permit them to be used as wheeled toys, and mechanical toys.

Another object is to provide a new and improved method of assembling inflatable bodies with rigid support means whereby to improve the versatility and extend the use for such articles.

Another object is to provide a new and improved toy, the major portion of which is made of a flexible plastic material in the form of a bag or enclosure which may be inflated and which assembles in semi-rigid engagement with a support therefor when said bag is inflated, said support being utilizable as a means for propelling or otherwise moving said toy.

Another object is to provide a new and improved wheeledtoy vehicle having a relatively large body, the major portion of which is an inflated enclosure which is supported by means of a rigid base having wheels mounted thereon.

Yet another object is to provide an improved wheeled toy which is colorful, free of sharp edges and rigid projections, and is light in weight.

A further object is to provide a new and improved construction in wheeled toys which are relatively large in size yet which may be packaged in a container or box which is considerably smaller than the toy when assembled.v

Still another object is to provide improved means for assembling an inflatable body with a rigid base containing a motor and propulsion means for said base whereby said body may be propelled thereby across a surface or on a body of water.

Still another object is to provide new and improved assembly means for an inflatable body on a rigid support or base whereby said body and said base will not easily shift relative to each other.

With the above and such other objects in view, as may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein are shown embodiments of this invention, but it is to be'understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an end view in cross-section showing details of the construction and assembly of an inflatable body with a rigid base member adapted not only to support said body in semi-rigid engagement therewith but also to support propulsion means such as axles on which Wheels may be mounted.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a modification of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end cross-section of an inflatable body and a rigid base member assembled in accordance with FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the assembly of FIG. 3 showing a propulsion means extending from the base.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a modified form of assembly of an inflatable toy and base,

FIG. 6 is a partial side view in partial cross-section of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 is a side view of a modified form of the water toy of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 1 are shown details of a construction which may be applied to inflatable wheeled toys, marine vehicles or boats, or the like which comprises an assembly iii of an inflatable body 12 and a rigid base member 20 joined together in such a manner that when the inflatabf e body is fully inflated, the tensioning of the walls thereof will serve to greatly enhance the strength of the assembly. The inflatable body 12 is preferably made by heat sealing 7 'two or more sheets of a flexible plastic material such as polyvinyl-chloride, polyethylene or the like in a circumscribing seal which provides an enclosure which may be inflated by means of a valve of conventional design into a shape such as a mock toy animal or the like. The body 12 consists of, in FIG. 1, a lower portion 13 having a generally bulbous shape and a neck portion 14 protruding upward therefrom which may be shaped to simulate the neck of a mock animal. The body portion 13 of 12 may be elongated in shape as illustrated in FIG. 2 providing an upper surface 13 of substantially horizontal extension on which a small child may ride. By itself the bulbous body 12 is relatively unstable and top heavy thereby limiting its application as a toy to an object which may be sat on or floated in the water.

By securing the inflatable body 12 to a rigid support therefor which serves as a vehicle or the like, the versatility of an inflatable figure toy may be greatly increased. In FIGS. 1 and 2 a box-shaped base 20 is provided having an upper wall 22 adapted to be drawn in firm engagement with the inflatable body 12 when the latter is inflated by means of a flexible strap member 16 secured to the inflatable body and extending around at least part of the base 20 as illustrated. The flexible strap member 16 may be secured to the inflatable body 12 in any suitable manner, provided that it is adapted to perform the required function of holding the two members together in a somewhat semi-rigid assembly upon inflation of the inflatable body. The flexible strap member 16 will therefore be in a flexible or loose condition upon initial assembly of 20 with 12 and, as the latter is inflated, will be drawn into an increasing state of tension until full inflation whereupon it will draw the flexible walls of the inflatable body firmly against the rigid base member 20. This type of assembly will permit the fabrication of a variety of toys out of inflatable flexible plastic sheeting which would not ordinarily be possible utilizing conventional inflatable toys per se.

In FIG. 1 the flexible joining strap 16 is illustrated as being heat sealed or welded near each end thereof to the side walls of the lower portion of the inflatable body 12. The notation 18 refers to the general areas of the strip 16 and the side walls of body portion 12 where joining is eflfected by means of heat sealing or welding.

FIG. 1 illustrates the main portion or roof 22 of body 20 as comprising a sheet-like formation having a slight curvature to conform to the bottom wall 12' of 10 when inflated. The roof portion 22 is shown with a pair of downwardly extending side walls 22a and 22b which mam features of the invention wiil be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it its appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A toy consisting of a single inflatable body and support assembly, said assembly comprising the combination of (a) an inflatable body member made of a flexible plastic sheeting having an interior volume which is totally enclosed and which is capable of retaining air and of being inflated to a semi-rigid state;

(b) a rigid base support member simulating a vehicle for said inflatable body member having side walls and including means for retaining said rigid member upright on a surface; said support member being adapted to be disposed in a generally horizontal plane;

(c) means for mounting said inflatable body member on said rigid base support member whereby it projects upwardly therefrom when said inflatable body member is inflated;

(d) means for permitting inflation of said inflatable body member to said semi-rigid state whereby the walls thereof become erect and are capable of upright self-support;

(e) means for securing said inflatable body member and base support member together comprising a flexible sheet member having downwardly extending side portions which are secured at their upper ends to laterally spaced apart portions of said inflatable body member and are joined together at their lower ends by a connecting strip which is adapted to engage a portion of said rigid base support member in a state of tension;

(f) whereby when said inflatable body member is inflated it is drawn by said flexible sheet member in a state of tension against said base member in a semirigid assembly therewith permitting the operation of the assembly as a single unit and normally maintaining said two members in a substantially fixed attitude to each other.

2. A toy assembly according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet member extends around the side walls and bottom of the rigid base support member.

3. A toy consisting of a single inflatable body and support assembly, said assembly comprising the combination of (a) an inflatable body member made of a flexible plastic sheeting having an interior volume which is totally enclosed and which is capable of retaining air and of being inflated to a semi-rigid state;

(b) a rigid base support member simulating a vehicle for said inflatable body member having side walls and including means for retaining said rigid member upright on a surface, said support member being adapted to be disposed in a generally horizontal plane;

(0) means for mounting said inflatable body member on said rigid base support member whereby it projects upwardly therefrom when said inflatable body member is inflated;

(d) means for permitting inflation of said inflatable body member to said semi-rigid state whereby the walls thereof become erect and are capable of upright self-support;

(e) means for securing said inflatable body member and base support member together comprising a loop of flexible sheet member secured at its upper end to the bottom of said inflatable body member, said loop being engaged and retained by a portion of said rigid base support member;

(f) whereby when said inflatable body member is inflated it is drawn by said flexible sheet member in a state of tension against said base member in a semirigid assembly therewith permitting the operation of the assembly as a single unit and normally maintaining said two members in a substantially fixed attitude to each other.

4. A toy assembly according to claim 3 wherein said loop engages an elongated rod member disposed within the base support.

5. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said rigid base support member simulates a boat.

6. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle has wheels rotationally mounted thereon for supporting said inflatable body upright on a surface.

7. A toy according to claim 6 including a motor secured to the assembly and operatively connected to at least one of said wheels for driving said assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,677,450 Iden July 17, 1928 2,384,193 Platt Sept. 14, 1945 2,665,519 Burkes Jan. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 264,676 Great Britain I an. 27, 1927 274,598 Great Britain July 28, 1927 661,644 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1951 742,755 France Mar. 16, 1933 

